Fluid pressure control unit for laundry machines and the like



Allg. 1945. L A HlcKs FLU1D PREssURE corgTRoL' UNlT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES .m15 THE LIKE Filed Decqe, 1943 17 sheets-sheet 2 ATro R NEYs.

All@ 1:4 1945 l v J. A. HICKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT EOE LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE .LIKE

FildDec. 6. 1943 l'Sheets-Sheet 15 Aug. 14, 1945. '.l. A. HlcKs 2,382,224

`FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL`UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE LIKE Y 1v sheets-sheet 4 Filed Dec. e, 19,43

u OR. TH/W55 FlH/C/(S, B56517850, Y )Power L. Homme/f, HDM..

l? /77 ATTO Y Aug. 14, 1945. J. A. HICKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT FOR LAUNDRY-MACHINES ND THE LIKE Filed bec. e, 1945 17 sheets-she't 5 I N VENT OR.

. 230 l JHMfS A'. H/c/CS, fcfnsf, @-1* BY Raaf/Erni.. HaLBRoo/f, fnv/w.

Aug. 14,1945.- J.' A. HICKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURECON'TROL UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE LIK Filed Dec. '6, 1943Y 17 sheets-sheet 6 7@ INVENTOR.

20g 230 JHMEsf/.H/cxs, pfcmsfn, v

BY Rogier L'. Holman/06pm.

Aug. 14, 1.945. Y J,.,A. HICKS FLUID PRESSURELCONTRL UNIT FR-LUDRY-MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec, 6, 1943 A17 .sheets-shet 7 INVENTOR. l

Aug. 14, 1945. J. A. HICKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL-UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES ANUTHE LIKE Filed Dec. 6, 1943 l 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 iff? FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT FOR LAUNDRY- MACHINS AND THE LIKE J. A. HICKS Aug.14,. 1945. -Y

Filed Dec. e, 194:5

17 Sheets-She'l',

l l l INVENTOK l .1.I A. HlcKs 2,382,224

*y FLUID PRESSUREICONTROL .UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. '6, 1943 17 sheets-sheet 1o INVENT'OR. ff/M55 A. Hlclrs; pien/5512, BY wafer. +/01.519001(l H11/n.

Aug. 14, 1945. J. A. H'I'CKS- 7 2,382,224

Filed Dec.. 1945 17 sheets-sheet4 11- f77 2 /zz/ i/7d /77 /722 f Aug, 14, 1945. J. A. HICKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL4 UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE LIKE 17 sheets-Sinaai 12 v Filed Dec. 6, 1943 l (QL/u //5 //7 l276 9; s0/fea 5 7 3 l v v 94? I w /f /Q/ A u j?? j@ fig@ //2 //6 INVENTOR.

Aug. 14, 1945,. ,y J. A ,MKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHlNES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. e, 1943 17 sheets-smet 13 /QO .Y /476 TNVENTOR. JHMES H. H/CKS, DEC'H55Q BY fasi/er L.` Haw/wolf, HDM.

Aug. 14, 1945.- J. A. HlcKs f 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSUREDONTROL NIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. '6, 1945 17 sheets-sheet 14 Aug- 14, 1945- I J, A.H1cKs v 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURECONTRL UNIT F-ORLUDRY' MACHINES AND THE LIKE y l Filed Dep.. e, 1945 -17 sheets-shee 15.

(N4 l Y INVENTOR. Jg/w55 f1. H/c/(Lpfcmsfp,

J BY @oaf/Pr L, Hom/1200A', HDM.

ATTORNEYS Allg. 14, 1945. Y J, A HlCKS 2,382,224

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES ND THE LlKE Filed Dec. 6, 1943 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 16 in A INVENTOR. Y

'QQ Jam/5 A ffm/(5, 11555515512, [gv y ,ROBE/er L. How/200K, fig/w. r l "a ATTORNEYS.

Aug.. 14, 1945. J. A. HICKS Y 2,382,224 FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNI' FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE LiKE Filed Dec.'k e, 1945 17 sheets-snem. 17

- INVENT OR. JHMES HIC/(5, DECF/455D, BY 79035127' L. HOLBB/f, HPM.

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT "FOR, LAUNDRY MACHINES AND THE anni` Ja es A. Hicks, deceased, late ofAtlanta, Ga., by

`Robert .L Holbrook, administrator, Atlant Ga., assignor to A. Belle Isle Application December 6, 1943, seria1Nc.513;zov

(o1. .es- 40) 1s Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved actuating mechanism for moving an operable member, such as a presser head or the like, `reglative to the Work, and for maintaining theoperab-le member in different posi-tions or for automatically releasing the same. t

An important feature of the invention "consists in associating with 'the pov/'er piston of `a pressing machine, an automatically operable pressure control: unit Which may bejreadily "attached `to machines of this type at a minimum expenditure of time and labor, or which may be installed Aon new equipment to'provide a simple, `eiic`ient, 'and economical mea-ns for controlling the operationof the presser head or other operable member to i which the Aunit may bevconnected, and which successfully meets the most-exacting demands o the best Working conditions imposed by `machines oi this type.` l t Heretofore, in pressesof -this type, the presser head had to be moved through a predetermined path or distanceandcouldrnotbe locked until it had completed its full closing stroke. An essential object `of the present .invention consists lin providing can automatic locking-means for mainl taining the presser head in iirrn engagerileni-l with the work or vthe buck fora predetermined period,l

and for automatically releasingv the presserihead at the expiration of this period, and-in Which'the locking of the :presser head is unaffected by .the difference in thickness or size of zthematerial for Work being pressed or treated. In other Words, the presser head is moved and vmaintainedinrlrrn engagement with' the Work for` the periodthe machine isset, without 'the necessity ofadjusting, disturbing, `or rearranging the `parts lof the control unit, even though .the work rst treated be ofgreater or lesser thickness and size Athan that subsequently treated. l l

A'further object comprehends the provisioniof simple, efcient, yand 'economical `means which are operatively connected toan actuating member so as'to move and maintain .th'e same in different positions, and Which Aautomatically retains the actuating memberinits 'differentzpositi'onsfor a predetermined period or Whichmayfbe operated to release theiactuating member :at any ytime ias the particular Work to bedone requires.

"Another object consists :in Vthe provisiono'f a presser head which is `.normally moved andmaintained in its release or inoperative position.1rela-` tive tothe work, and associating Withtnelpresser i head a 'control unit fhaving f spaced '.nianually :op-V erable valvesnormally positionedto maintain .the

` y presser head in its 'release position, `and which upon Vthe simultaneous operationof the valves and the holding of the valves 'for a predetermined interval in `their fopened positions, automatically maintains the presser head in contact with the work for a predeterminedperiod and at the expiration of this period automatically releases the head from the Work. The manually operable valves vhave associated therewith means "constructed :and arrangedV so that `after the valves have 'been simultaneously operated to close the press they will, upon being released, before the expiration o'f the predetermined period, for which the machine has `been set, cause the presser head to'be 'returned to its. raised or opened position.

Another object consists iin providing an "au- .tomatic` valve housing fwith a chamber in which is mounted a slide valve voperable by an application piston and a release piston. The liuid pressure medium is introduced between the pistons and above the slide 'valve in order to produce a balance pressure and to `maintain the slide valve seated.' The pressure medium is also conducted selectively to jthe outer faces of each of the application 4and release :pistons to `controlthe axial movement of th'e .pistons andthe slide valve dur` ing the Voperation of the machine.

Another object consists .in associating with a garment orirom'ng press, a 'pressure control unit having 'governor .means for `maintaining the press in its closedpositi'onfor a predetermined periodA and *for automatically `releasing the press at the expiration of this period. Additionally, the con- Itrol mechanism has Vmeans to eiect the .release of the pressratany time irrespective of the period it has been set by *the :governor to be held in its lockedfposition. .Thus Iitvvill "be seen that abattery of'gpressingmachinesmay bepositioned so as to be controlled by a single operator, by the proper setting `o'f the governor to raise or move the presser heads in sequential order, softhatthe operatormay `remove and "apply material vto :be treated or pressed to a number of machines.

A :still further object consists `in 4associating with the control unit, automatic safety means 'for maintaining the 'parts in .different positions so as to eliminate the :danger `of injuring the operator and also for increasing the efliciencyof the machine.`

Other objectszandtadvantages of the invention Willbecomeapparent from the following description when `taken 'in conjunction with the accom- `panying:claimsand?drawings.

Referring tto the fdrawings in which is disclosed a lpreierre'd :embodiment :of fthe invention:

Figure 1 is a Is'i'deelevation of `a press having my improved control unit associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front View of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan View taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the left hand manually operable Valve, with the parts in operative position;

Figure 6 is a bottom face View of the slide valve shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 'I-'I of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8--8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a ysectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Figure l5;

Figure 10 is a detail side view of the automatic slide Valve shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I of Figure 4; Y f

y Figure 12 is a front elevation of the automatic valve showing the front cap or cover removed;

Figure 13 is a detailed inside View of the front cover;

Figure 14 is a detailed inside view of the rear cover;

Figure 15 is a'plan View of the applicationv and release pistons, main slide Valve, and their associated parts;

Figure' 1S is a bottom face view of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I'i-H of Figure 7 with the slide valve and pistons removed;

Figure 1871s a sectional View Ytaken substantially along the line lB-l 8 of Figure 7 Figure 19 is a sectional View taken substantially along theline |9-| 9 .of Figure 7;

Figure 2O is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 20-20 of Figure 19 Figure 2l is a detailed front view of the eX- haust end. of the muiiler shown in Figure 19;

Figure 22 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 22-22 of Figurev19; 1

Figure 23 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 23-23 of Figure 19;

Figure '24 is a sectionaloview taken substantially along the line 2li-24 of Figure 2 showing the right hand slide Valve in its neutral position;

Figure 25 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 25e-25 of Figure 24;

Figure 26 is a View similar to Figure 24 showing the slide valve and its associated parts in their applied or operative position;

Figure 27 is a View similar to Figure 24 showingthe right hand valve in its manually released position;

Figure 28 is a bottom face View of the slide Valve shownrin Figure 24;

Figure 29` is a plan view'of the slide Valve shown in Figure 28; i

Figure 30 is a detailed plan View of the pressure governor;

Figure 31 is a vertical sectional view of the governor taken substantially along the line 3| -3| of Figure 30; i

Figure 32 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 32-32 of Figure 31; f

Figure 33 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33-33 of Figure 31;

Figure 34 is a diagrammatic plan View of the main slidevalve seat and its associated parts;

Figure 3 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 5-435 of Figure 4l Figure 36 is a sectional plan View taken substantially along the line 36-36 of Figure 42;

Figure 37 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 31--31 of Figure 35;

Figure 38 is a sectional View` taken substantially along the line 38-38 of Figure 36;

Figure 39 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 39-36 of Figure 35 Figure 40 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 40-40 of Figure 36;

Figure 41 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line lll-4| of Figure 35;

Figure 42 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 42-42 of Figure 36;

Figure 43 is a diagrammatic view of parts of the control unit showing the main slide Valve and the manually operable or auxiliary slide valves in their neutral position and with the pressure supply turned on Figure 44 is a diagrammatic View similar to Figure 43 showing the manually operable slide Valves in their open position; y

Figure 45 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 43 showing the right handn slide yValve in manually released position as shown in Figure 27 and with the left hand slide valve either in its open or closed position;

Figure 46 is a diagrammatic View of the control unit and its associated parts in their released or inoperative positions; y

Figure 47 is a diagrammatic View similar to Figure 46 with their parts in the applied or operative positions; v

Figure 48 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the governor showing the diaphragm and valve in their raised position;

Figure 49 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 49-.49 of Figure 12;

Figure 50 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 50-50 of Figure 49;

Figure 51 is a detail sectional view taken substantiauy along the une 5|-5l of Figure 17, and

Figure 52 is a detail sectional View taken substantially along the l'ine'52-52 of Figure 51.

For the purpose of illustration, the automatic pressure controlled unit is shown associated with a pressing or ironing machine of any well known and standard construction. The machine may comprise a supporting frame 50 (Figure 1) on which is mounted the pressing buck 5| Extending upwardly. from the rear of the frame is an arm 52 to which is pivotally connected as at 53, a lever 54, which at its forward end carries a presser head 55 arranged toV be moved into and out of pressingengagement withV the buck 5|, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. An adjustable link or rod 56 isconnected as at 5"!.tothe rear end of the lever 54 and is secured at its 'opposite end, as at 58, to the long arm 59 of a bell-crank lever 6U pivoted at 6| tothe frame. The short arm 62 of the bell-crank may be connected to a spring 63'whi'ch in turn is secured to the frame so as to urge the presser head 55 away from the buck 5|. A fluid motor or pressure cylinderll is pivotally connected at. its upper end as at 65 to the frame, and has a piston rod 66 pivotally connected as at 6l to an intermediate portion of the short arm 62 of the bell-crank. Within the cylinder 64 is a reciprocating piston 68 (Figure 3) to which is connected the rod 66 so as to move thev scri-bed. The buck and the. presser head maybe provided. with heating chambers arranged tolbe supplied,` with steam4 through the pipe 6,9.) lsolas to apply the desired heat tothe garment or article being pressed or ironed by themachine,v andthis steam may ,be utilized tofoperate themotor64.

GeneraZj description In order to provide simple, positive, and `,imonomicalmeans for efciently'operating the presser head 55er other suitable operableniember so as to apply aproper and uniformappl-icationpf pressurefon the work, an automatically releasable and time operable pressurecontrolunit generally designated as10 (Figure 2)` is preferably connected to the front of the machine, by the spacerzl,metal-I lic straps1 I, and the screws '112, The controlunit 10 is constructed and arranged, to bel very .compact and readily accessible for inspection` or re pair, and may be attached to standard pressing machines to increase their eiiiciency of operation at a minimum expenditureof time and eiort, or may be installed as new equipment on various kinds of machines `in which a power cylinder or operable member is arranged to be actuated by fluid pressure. The control unit 10 essentially comprises an automatic main slide` valve housing 13 (Figure 7) mounted on a reservoir or recep tacle 14 by the threaded bolts 1,5 (Figure 8). Secured to the underside or bottom of the reservoir 14 is a booster or pressure saving member 1.6A

which has connected to one side thereof a niuiiler 11- communicating with the atmosphere through the perforations or openings 18 `in its outer endl (Figure 21). Secured to opposite sides of the reservoir 14 are supporting brackets or arms 19` and` 80 (Figure 4), by the threaded bolts 8|.. At their outer ends thebrackets 19 and 80 are shaped to form the spaced slide valve housings 82 and 8.3, respectively. A pressure control governor 84 (Figure 2) may be connected to one side of the" reservoir 14 by the `anged arm or bracket 8,5 and'` the threaded bolts 86 so" that all of the parts of the control unit are conveniently positioned ad-` jacent one another and may readily be attached to a machine or removed therefrom,

The main valve housing 13 (Figure '7) is formed at its ends with enlarged chambers 81. and 88, respectively, one'of which, such asl the chamber 81, constitutes the application chamber and the other, 88, Athe `release chamber. Between these u two spacechambers is a main supplyI chamber 89 into which the fluid pressure medium is introduced and discharged to various parts ofthe control unit `during the operation of the press.

An application piston 90 in the chamber 81 is` connected to a release piston 9| in the chamber 88 by a common piston rod or shaft 92 extending lengthwise through the chamber 89, so` that these pistons are simultaneously operable upon the variation of pressurein the `chambers 81 and 88'. The pistons 90 and 9| may be detachably connected to the rod 92 by the threaded nuts 92'.

The portion of the shaft 92 within thechamber 89 has a pair of spaced collars or flanges 93 between which-is carried ya main slide va1ve94 having its bottom face 95 (Figure 16) provided .with vertical through openings 96 and Bland` elongated cavities or slots 98, '99 and |00 and a substantially L-shaped cavity of the pistons 90 and 9| may have spaced slit rings, |03 for engaging the inner wall of the chambersBT and y813 .during the reciprocating movementiof the pistons to prevent the escape of the having a` notched or recessed portion |02. The periphery fluid pressurev from one side 'ofz the pistonsto theo-ther. The 'slide valve 94,1hasupwand1y`ex. tending spaced; sides |04 which. 'may belongitu- `di-nally interrupted; as at`l05 (Figure 10). Confined between the side walls |204 by the transf, verse pin |06;,(Fi'gure 15) is a spring` Iiiirwhich has bent arms `|08 extendinglongitudinaliy of the chamber 8,9v so asto engage the adjacent wall thereof, inlorderyieldably to, maintain, the slide valve 94,` in firm engagement with its seatyl.

(Figure '7). rIhe valvel set |09 (Figurel'l) has spaced. openings or passages ||0, |112-, liga, H4, |15, H6, H11, and ||8 which registerwith complementaryiormed passages or openings U9, |20, |2|, |22, |23, |24; |25,` |26 and |l21f,`respec` tively, on the bottom of the housing `13 (Figure 18). The passages |20, |22, |24 and `|26` (Fig-` ure 4) extend downwardly through` the reservoir i 141 and register with aligned passages |28, |29; |30, and |3|, respectively inthe booster 16:` (Figa. ureV 22). The passages |29 and |30 (Figure lil) are closed a-t their lower ends .and have lateral ports |32 and |33;` communicating with the mui.- fler 11 so as to discharge'the fluidto theatfk mosphere through the muiiier openings `it; n

The forward end of the reservoir 141` has three transverse opennigs |35, |56 and |51 (Figure f7.)y

which extend therethrough and register with,

a vertical through opening L48 and` having init-s bottom face |49 an` elongated cavity or slot |50, (Figure 28). The cavity |501 is arranged: tol establish communication between the ports|i42 and;`

|45 in the valve seatf|44 when the handleA |58 of: this valvev is raised. rIhe opening. |48;moves n registration with the port |4| when the handle |58 is depressed. The valve seat |=5|`in1the1left hand valve housing 88 (Figure 4) has three open-V ings l52, |53 and |54 which correspond and communicate with the complementary openings |4|,` |42 and |43 in the right hand valve,- housing 82.

has its bottom face |56 (Figure 6) formedrwith a transverse cavity |51l arranged to establish corn.-`

munication between the ports |52 and |53dwhen the handle |59 of` this valve is raised. `'l'henauxiliary slide valves |41 and` |55 in` their normalor neutral positions blank4 their complementary ports or openings.

shaft |60 (Figure 25).

|62 to support the same (Figure 26). end of each member |62 has a projection'or tooth |63 which lits into a complementary recessiifl in the top of each of the slide valves |41 and |55 so that rotations of the shafts |60, by the ac tuation of their handles, impart a reci-procated movement to their corresponding slide valves.

The inner endo'i each shaft |60 is reducedas at |65and is mounted within a bearing |646 inthe,

side offeach of the slide valve housings. Acorn,-

binedf-tension` and torsional spring |.61 (Figure, 25) maintains a g-.Sket yor, packing gland L68 in, frictonal engagement with a damping: Sleeve'ierf A reciprocating slidevalve |55 (Figure (5v)- is. mounted in the left hand valve housing 83 :Jand- Each of the handles |58,-` andA |59 is connected to alcomplementary rotatable Each shaft |601hasawflat, portion |.6| which` extends through a similarly shaped opening in an oscillatable 'memberfonarm`v The lower 

